Mucha

Happy Birthday to the artist who single handedly began the art deco movement: Alphonse Mucha.

Speaking of Rothko...

"Red"

A play starring Alfred Molina as Mark Rothko.

It looks really interesting. And at the end of the article, they mention how Alfred Molina previously played Diego Rivera in Frida. I still haven't seen that movie! It's officially on my list now.

oh, fun.

First of all, what is up with Ok Go having all these really silly and interesting music videos? My room mate just showed me their video for This Too Shall Pass. It's really amazing! When I was a kid, I was always so interested in Rube Goldbergs. Basically, they are chain reaction contraptions, or essentially machines, made of everyday objects. Watch this video and you'll see what I mean. It's a good one.


70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

Also, in my attempt to keep this artsy, I found this video on Madame Lamb. The song is 70 Million by Hold Your Horses, and has tons of art history references in it. It's really fun, watch this one too.

Ibuprofen, please.

Sunday:
On Sunday I worked an 8 hour shift at work, got off late, missed my bus, and missed a study group. I decided to go to the art center and gesso my last wood panel, since my 5 pigeon paintings were due the next day. I gessoed away, with much of it ending up on my peacoat :(. Then, I came back to my apartment, and began to finish 5 paintings. My only break was when Joshua drove me to The Grinder for a latte (dark chocolate raspberry, mmm).
I ended up staying awake until 5:30 am. If you know me, you know that this is virtually impossible for me to do. I cannot stay up late. I typically start to get sick and achy around 1 am. I have no idea where my energy and stamina came from, but I think it was a combination of constant Lady Gaga music, the latte, and an act of God.

Monday:
My paintings did get finished, I got 4 hours of sleep after that, and my final went very well. I got some good feedback and lots of nods of approval! Soon I will post a picture of the set. The whole class did excellently, and it helped that Gala brought us all coffees and pastries from Tully's. I set off for my day feeling accomplished, slightly loopy, and feeling like a true college student.
Then, as I rode the bus to work (another 8 hour shift that got cut into 4, thanks to someone willing to cover for me), I began to feel sick. Soon, I had a migrane pounding my head, I felt like simultaneously throwing up and crying for the rest of the day. I finally got off work and headed home so I could take a 1 or 2 hour nap before studying for my other 3 finals. But, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't sleep. How frustrating is that? I tried all sorts of relaxation techniques, but no go. I crawled over to Bethany's apartment and pleaded that she would play mom to me, and make me soup. That angel happily obliged and with two bowls of soup, bread, tea, and water in my stomach, I went to bed at 11:00. So, it is confirmed. Heaven cannot do all nighters. That day was awful.

Tuesday:
So, as you can imagine, I got absolutely no studying finished on Tuesday. Absolutely none. I went into all three of my finals utterly unprepared, and still feeling the aftermath of yesterday's sickness. I think that my art history final went okay, which is amazing, seeing that I am not the hugest fan of that class. My perspective final is incomplete, and I hope to finish it today. And, my history class final was basically a bust.
But, I'm done. And alive.

Henri et Claude

Two Thursdays ago, I was able to go to the Seattle Art Museum, which is always a delight for me.

I just love museums. I love them. They positively make me tingle. Being in the presence of so much art and creative process and history honestly fills me with energy! So, even though I was required to go as part of my art history class (somehow makes everything fun, less so), I was happy to be spending a couple hours amongst art of excellence, not stuck in a dimly lit classroom.

So, the two paintings that stuck out to me the most, were right next to each other. Paysage d'Hiver aux Bord de la Seine by Henri Matisse and Fishing Boats at Etreat by Claude Monet.

 

Claude Monet

Ok, I couldn't find the painting by Matisse online. Which is really frustrating...I feel like if a piece exists, and is known to belong to a significant artist, and is in a major city's museum, then a copy should be available online. Anyway, the Matisse and the Monet were placed right next to each other, and it was a beautiful pairing. It made me happy to observe them both together.

If you know me, you probably know that I have loved Claude Monet since about age 6. When I was a kid, the only poster that I owned was a Monet water lilies print. I had a video that I enjoyed watching called "Linnea in Monet's Garden," a sweet cartoon about a young girl who travels to Monet's gardens at Giverny with her nice old man neighbor/mentor. I was given a giant pop up book of Monet's gardens, along with some fancy coffee table books and postcards of his gardens and artwork. I've had a great relationship with this artist, for about 17 years! Seeing any Monet piece makes me feel kind of nostalgic, along with the fact that I really love his artwork in general.

Anyway, seeing art in real life is so much better than seeing it on a screen! It is emotional and tangible. 

When I saw Monet at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco in 2006, I truly realized this. This exhibit was a dream come true, and seeing every brushstroke, every impasto dab, and his choppy signature made me feel electrified. I cried.

Monet's Brushstrokes

The pass that I used to get into the SAM with my class is good until the middle of this month, so I hope to take full advantage of it! Plus, the pass is good at the Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. I predict an art filled week...